For the past eight years I have been writing about the issues that all of us older people face as we move through the aging process. On April 6, 2010, I published my first article in the Newton TAB which serves our city of close to 90,000. Over the years,...

Maybe we are connected with each other in ways that we don’t know and don’t see. Maybe our presence in our neighborhoods is noticed even though we don’t feel it. Maybe our regular actions are observed and registered in the minds of strangers, but their awareness is hidden from us....

Every day, I drive down the suburban streets where I live. Sometimes I walk. Overall, cars far outnumber walkers – even if I consider the multitudes of people who are out with their dogs. Making my way down a street by car or on foot is a lovely experience. There...

The concepts behind the age-friendliness and livability movement are taking hold in communities across the country and I am delighted! Where I live in Newton, Massachusetts, a lot of work has been going on for the past five years to create a foundation, raise awareness, and develop plans to benefit...

In my last posting (What’s all this about Livability and Age-friendliness, May 2016) I talked about the broad ideas of what livability and age-friendliness mean. I described the World Health Organization’s (WHO) and AARP’s recognition that throughout the world we are getting older. WHO states that “the number of people...

More and more I hear talk about “Livable” and “Age-friendly” communities. I see these terms in newspapers, web-sites, blogs, and presentations. For many years, I have been intrigued by the ideas underlying these broad concepts. Interestingly, my very first article in the Newton TAB of April 6, 2010 was on...

I have a hard time asking for help. I see myself as an independent, competent person who can take care of herself quite well without anyone’s assistance. At least that is how I felt until some recent events altered my thinking profoundly and permanently. In my writings I always struggle...

There is much discussion about housing projects in my city newspapers, web-sites, e-mails, public announcements, and meetings. This spate of publicity reveal s passionate opinions for and against whatever type of housing is being discussed. I can commiserate with people on various sides. I understand how people who have lived...

I was at a meeting the other day with a small group of people and we were talking about ways to address issues that impact seniors. The discussion revolved around the major concerns and anxieties about things we all face: housing (where to live as we get older so that...

A few weeks ago, after my son, daughter-in-law, and 3-year old granddaughter, Lina, left my house here in South Wellfleet, I discovered that they had inadvertently left behind Lina’s bath toys. These were not fancy things – a few foam letters that stick on wet walls, a bath-friendly book, and...

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About Marian

Marian Leah Knapp, Ph.D., wants to start a new conversation about “aging with intent.” Much of what is written about elders is from the point of view of physicians, psychiatrists, gerontologists, and adult children. In her roles as author, columnist, speaker and elder activist, Marian is reporting from the front lines.Full biography